The Self-Care Habits We're Embracing In 2026
Ira is the email marketing specialist at Adore. Likes: lip oils, hand creams, people letting her look up their birth chart, and her cat. Dislikes: when moisturisers smell like roses.
Do it with me: breathe in … 2 … 3 … 4 … breathe out … 2 … 3 … 4.
My goal for this year is to “make good choices”.
(I take New Years’ resolutions really seriously and yes I do them – my dinner parties last year were a raging success, thanks for asking).
What does a “good choice” look like? Well, it’s different for everyone, but essentially it’s less about the choice and more about how the choice makes you feel.
Let’s have 2026 be the year we feel calm, collected, healthy, rejuvenated, mindful.
That’s not to say we’re not having fun in 2026: a dance with your close friends can feel just as rejuvenating for your body as a day of rest.
Now is the perfect time to take stock of our 2026 self-care vision, so here’s some self care habits I’m thinking about:
Let's Stay Hydrated.
Our insides are beautiful mermaids and we need to regularly H2O, just add water.
Years ago, a particularly glamorous colleague of mine bought a teal Maison Balzac J’ai Soif Carafe to the office to keep at her desk, because regular water bottles aren’t aesthetic enough and frankly, I haven’t stopped thinking about it since.
Whether you’re in the office or want to spruce up your WFH situation, having this beautiful glassware by your side may be the thing to get you sipping.
No joke, after I wrote this I realised I hadn’t drunk any water in over an hour and got up to have some. You see? Good choices ;)
If electrolytes and supplements are your thing, we’ve been loving these:
Not only are they delicious, but having them in single serve sachets means you can pop them in your bags and make good hydration choices wherever you are.
Let's Get Our Bodies Moving.
Terrible news: exercise does make you feel better.
I don’t know about you but I work a desk job, and my body does not like it. I’m not falling apart but if I don’t get my body moving throughout the day, I’m not thriving either.
Things to do:
- Go for a walk during your lunch break if you have somewhere nice near you.
- Add a “stretch time” 15 minute block in your calendar every day (and stick by it).
- Put on some R&B and have a dance break, if you’re WFH literally no one is watching (I can confirm this).
In addition to all this, of course, we should all be doing regular exercise but let’s be so real right now: gym memberships are expensive, not to mention Pilates classes.
Having the option to do your workouts at home is simply about accessibility.
Adore Beauty has a whole range of products perfect for at-home workouts, but really all you need to be able to do the simplest of routines and get your body feeling groovy are:
Let's Prioritise Active Rest.
I’m someone who has no chill, I know this. And that means that I burn out a lot.
So I have a lot of experience in forced relaxation time – I even wrote about my extra at-home spa routine for BIQ.
But if you don’t have two hours to fight with your inner productivity demons, here are my quick tips for Active Rest (i.e. actually letting yourself switch off, not doomscrolling).
Put on a face mask, a really watery one like the Hada Labo Moisturising Facial Sheet Mask 20ml that forces you to lie on your back otherwise it’ll run down your neck. And close your eyes.
If you want, put on your audiobook, catch up with your fave podcast, or listen to one of those playlists of falling rain.
But close your eyes. And breathe. You are safe, you deserve to relax, you need to let the sheet mask do its thing.
Or, you could do your nails. Really take the time and care to make them look the way you want to. essie have some fantastic nail care, like this Apricot Cuticle Oil, or the gel couture range.
And, finally, I’m just gonna leave this right here: LBDO Essensual Vibe - Lilac … :)
Let's Get Enough Sleep.
Say it with me: 8 hours each night.
If we’re being honest this is the one where I just know I’m going to falter. I have a lot of trouble sleeping, specifically staying asleep. So, I need to actively set myself up for success.
Blocking out any light is a must for me. And after years of trialling different materials I can give the official verdict: you want a satin eye mask, specifically. It blocks out light, feels lovely, and is easy to wash.
I’m picking up this one in my next Adore Beauty haul: Kitsch Satin pillow eyemask - charcoal
And finally, as a little treat for the bedtime ritual, I recommend checking out the Naked Harvest Moon Mylk range for a better night’s rest.
You can make good choices this year too, I believe in you!
